In this Issue:
United States
1.
FTC to study impact of physician group and health care facility mergers.
As part of its Merger Retrospective Program, on Jan. 13, 2021, the FTC issued an Order to File a Special Report to six health insurance companies. The FTC plans to use information gathered through the Special Report (e.g., patient-level data from 2015 to 2020) to analyze the competitive impact of physician and health care facility consolidation, as well as mergers and acquisitions, in markets for health care services.
2. FTC approves final order imposing conditions on combination of Pfizer Inc.’s Upjohn and Mylan N.V.
On Jan. 28, 2021, the FTC announced its final order approving the combination of the Upjohn division of Pfizer Inc. and Mylan N.V. in a spinoff, forming Viatris Inc. The FTC alleged that the proposed acquisition would harm competition in generic drug markets. The final order requires the parties to divest certain rights and assets in seven current generic
Greenwash: 40% of websites misleading consumers on environmental credentials
An annual sweep of corporate websites has found that four in ten are providing information on environmental criteria that could be considered misleading and potentially breaking consumer laws.
The sweep found that 40% of the websites posted vague claims that failed to define “eco”, “sustainable” or “natural products”
The International Consumer Protection Enforcement Network (ICPEN) hosts annual website “sweeps”, where brands are examined to remove potentially fraudulent, deceptive or unfair online conduct.
For the first time, ICPEN has focused on environmental claims and whether they provide accurate information to consumers. Led by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) the latest sweep of almost 500 websites found that 40% were posting potentially misleading environmental information.
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CMA Warns 40% Of Firms Green Claims Could Be Misleading
Law360, London (January 29, 2021, 3:04 PM GMT) The U.K. s antitrust enforcer has said that businesses selling genuine green products could be losing out to bogus sellers after it found that 40% of claims on websites claiming that goods and services are environmentally friendly could be misleading.
The watchdog said it has looked into misleading green claims in sectors including clothing and food under a scheme targeting online fraud. (iStock)
The Competition and Markets Authority said it looked into misleading green claims on randomly selected websites in November 2020, under a government-backed scheme targeting online fraud.
Global sweep finds 40% of firms’ green claims could be misleading
A CMA co-ordinated global review of randomly selected websites has so far found that 40% of green claims made online could be misleading consumers.
From:
28 January 2021
The International Consumer Protection Enforcement Network (ICPEN) hosts an annual sweep of websites, which gives consumer authorities across the world the opportunity to target fraudulent, deceptive or unfair conduct online. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) led the latest sweep, focusing on misleading environmental claims for the first time.
As part of the international sweep, ICPEN members have so far analysed almost 500 websites promoting products and services across a range of sectors, including clothes, cosmetics and food.
Greenwashing is rampant in online stores, consumer authorities find Reuters 1/28/2021
BRUSSELS, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Many of the green claims on companies websites are exaggerated, false and potentially illegal, according to a study of online shops and traders by the European Union and national consumer protection authorities.
As consumers demand more sustainable goods, the number of environmental claims made by companies is rising and with it, greenwashing , where companies exaggerate their environmental credentials to win over shoppers.
Looking into green claims, mostly by online stores and also some traders websites in November 2020, the European Commission and national authorities found the problem was rife.